Self-feeding mechanism for threshing-machines.



C.`H. BIDWELL.

SELF FEEDING MECHANISM FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

(Application led June 12, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..A

CHARLES H. BIDWELL, OF MEDINA, NEW YORK.

SELF-'FEEDING MECHANISNI FOR THRESHING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,579, dated April 9,1901.

Application filed June 12, 1899. .Serial No. 720,265. (No model.)

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. BIDWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Medina, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, haveinvented a new and Improved Self-Feeding Mechanism forThreshing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is the construction of a self-feedingmechanism adapted especially t0 bean-threshing machines.

l have found that the feeding mechanism usually employed ingrain-threshin g machines does not work satisfactorily in bean-thresherson account of the tendency of the bean-stalks, especially afterremaining any length of time in the mow, to string and pass over thefeeding mechanism in bunches. Another objection to the feedingmechanisms used in grainthreshing machines consists in the difficultyexperienced in attempting to remove stone from Athe bean-stalks justbefore they enter the cylinder. The present methods of harvesting beansresult in quite a quantity of stones being clogged up with the beans,and frequently they get upon the table and over the feeding mechanisminto the cylinder,damaging the cylinder and concave. To overcome thesedifficulties, I have devised a selffeeding mechanism in which thepresence of stones of any size sufcient to do serious damage gives anaudible signal, and the operator may then readily tip the feedingmechanism in such a way that the stone will pass off from the feedingmechanism onto the ground without entering the cylinder.

Another advantage4 noted in connection with my self-feeding mechanism isthe ready access aorded to the concave for the purpose of removing thesame when desired.

The accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, are as follows:

Figure 1 is a side view of the rear end of a threshing-machinecontaining my improved feeding mechanism, such feeding mechanism and itsattachments being shown in dott-ed lines, as well as also the cylinderand con- Fig. 2 is a top View of-the parts shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view taken along the line 5 6 of Fig. 2 with all theparts below such line 5 6 in Fig. 2 removed. Fig. 4 illustrates indetail the'construction of the tilting mechanism by means of which theself-feeder is inclined to the rearward in order to remove the stonefrom the stalks just before entering the cylinder.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the outside casing of athreshing-machine. The cylinder a, and the concave b coperatingtherewith are indicated in dotted lines in Fig.

l, while the exposed parts of such cylinder and concave are indicated inplan view in Fig. 2. This concave has formed on its upper end anextension projecting to the rear, which ,forms a support for theshaking-pau c, the rear end of which is supported in the double crankformed on the crank-shaft CZ. This crank-shaft CZ revolves in suitablebearings e, thereby imparting to the pan c a longitudinal shakingmotion, while the rearend of such pan is caused to describe a completecircle by the rotation of the shaft CZ over to the right. Suitable teethy, formed or secured on the upper surface of this pan c, impart to thestalks, supplied thereto in the usual manner by means of a fork, aforward movement, causing them to advance at a uniform rate between thecylinder a and the concave b. On the farther end of the shaft CZ is seena pulley g, to which rotation is imparted from a similar` pulleyf bymeans of a band t'. The pulleys fand g are held at a fixed distance fromeach other by means of the linksj and Z0, in the left-hand ends of whichthe bearings are formed for the shaft of the pulley f, while in theright-hand ends of these linksj and k are formed bearings for the shaftCZ. These connecting-linksj and Zo may be rigidly held at the properdistance apart and parallel to each vother in any suitable manner. (Notshown.)

In the case A of the machine are formed suitable bearings for the shaftZ, on the end of which toward the observer is rigidly secured the leverh. Projecting to the left from this shaft Z and rigidly secured theretoare seen the two arms fn., each working freely through a suitable strapsecured on the under side of the pan c and near the left-hand endthereof. By the movement of this lever over to the right, causing it tooccupy the position shown at h in dotted lines in Fig. 4E, the pan c israised so as to occupy the position shown in dotted lines at c', Whilethe po- IOO sitions of the straps o and the arm rt are also shown `indotted lines at o and n', respectively. Secured on the end of this shaftZ. farthest from the observer is seen a cam m, arranged to engage theunder surface of the connecting-link 7c. When the handle h occupies thenormal position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, this cam m is nearly orquite free from the link lo and allows the weight of the links j and laand that of the pulley f to fall upon the main driving-belt of themachine, working over the main pulley P, secured on the farther end ofthe shaft for the cylinder a. The weight of such parts resting upon thismain driving-belt B causes sucient friction between the belt t',encircling the pulleys f and g, and the belt B to drive such pulleys fg, thereby rotating the shaft d and reciprocating the pan c. Owing tothe conformation of the cam m, but a slight movement of the handle hover to the right is required in order to cause the pulley fand the linklo and belt z' to occupy the position shown in dotted lines at f', lo',and 17, respectively, in Fig. 3, whereby the belt fi, being lifted outof 'contact with the belt B, the rotation of the y indicated in dottedlines at f', 7d, and i', re-

spectively.

The operation of my feeding mechanismis as follows: The bean-stalks, fedonto the pan c by a fork in the usual manner, are caused by thereciprocating motion of this pan c to be fed at a practically uniformrate in between the cylinder a and the concave b. The teeth r on the panc and the reciprocating motion of such pan causes the stalks to bespread out in a nearly uniform layer when properly fed onto the pan c. Iprefer to make thisfpan of sheet-iron in order that any stone which maybe fed onto the pan with the stalks will produce a rattling noise, andthereby give indication of their presence. In such a case the personfeeding the stalks upon the pan c will operate the lever h, moving thesame to the right as far as may be necessary to cause such stones todrop off from the rear end of such pan and onto the ground. A suitablecanvas may be spread on the ground to catch any beans that may pass offwith the stones. In

some cases a slight vibration of the handle h may be necessary todislodge the stone, while the teeth fr' on the upper surface of the panc will serve to prevent the bean-stalks from sliding 01T at the rear endof the pan.

When at any time it is desirable to get at the concave b, ready accessis afforded thereto by moving the handle h clear over to the right tothe position indicated in dotted lines h' in Fig. 4:; but a slightmotion only of this handle h over to the right is required to remove thebelt 'i from contact with the belt b, thereby causing the rotation ofthe shaft d to cease.

What I claim is- 1. Ina threshing-machine, a feeding mechanismconsisting in a shaking-pan having teeth formed thereon, a handle orlever and connections between such handle and shaking-pan whereby suchpan may be swung upward and to the rear on its operating crankshaft bythe movement of such handle, mechanism for operating such crank-shaftand connections between such handle and mechanism, whereby the operativeconnection between such crank-shaft and mechanism may be broken by themovement of such handle.

2. In a threshing-machine, a feeding mechanism consisting in ashaking-pan having teeth formed thereon, and arranged to swing upward'and to the rear on its operating crankshaft, a handle or lever andconnections between such handle and shaking-pan whereby such pan may beswung upward and to the rear by the movement of such handle, mechanismfor operating such crank-shaft and mechanism whereby the movement ofsuch handle in swinging such pan upward and to the rear firstdisconnects such operating crank-shaft' from such mechanism.

3. In a threshing-machine in combination with the feeding mechanismconsisting in a shaking-pan having teeth formed thereon and arranged togive an audible signal of the presence of'stone thereon, anoperatingcrankshaft for reciprocating such pan, mechanism for operatingsuch crank-shaft, a handle or lever, connections between such handle andpan whereby, by the movement of such handle, such pan may at any pointin its movement or throw, be swung upward and to the rear on suchcrank-shaft as the center of such motion, and connections between suchhandle, and such mechanism whereby by the movement of such handle theoperative connection between suchmechanism and crankshaft is firstbroken when such pan is swung upward and to the rear.

C. H. BIDWELL. Witnesses:

ALBERT C. BELL, ETHA M. SMITH.

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